In music

Music

Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

, a section is "a complete, but not independent musical idea

Musical idea

In music, an idea is conception or realization of an idea such as a theme or texture. A complete but not independent musical idea is a section.The term Idée fixe, or fixed idea, refers to Leitmotif.-External Links:...

". Types of sections include the introduction

Introduction (music)

In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...

 or intro, exposition

Exposition (music)

In musical form and analysis, exposition is the initial presentation of the thematic material of a musical composition, movement, or section. The use of the term generally implies that the material will be developed or varied....

, recapitulation

Recapitulation

Recapitulation may refer to:* Recapitulation , a section of musical sonata form where the exposition is repeated in an altered form and the development is concluded...

, verse

Verse-chorus form

Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...

, chorus

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

 or refrain

Refrain

A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...

, conclusion

Conclusion (music)

In music, the conclusion is the ending of a composition and may take the form of a coda or outro.Pieces using sonata form typically use the recapitulation to conclude a piece, providing closure through the repetition of thematic material from the exposition in the tonic key...

, coda

Coda (music)

Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...

 or outro, fadeout, bridge

Bridge (music)

In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...

 or interlude. In sectional forms such as binary

Binary form

Binary form is a musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated. Binary is also a structure used to choreograph dance....

, the larger unit (form) is built from various smaller clear-cut units (sections) in combination, analogous to stanzas in poetry or sort of like stacking legos.

Some well known songs consist of only one or two sections, for example "Jingle Bells" commonly contains verses ("Dashing through the snow...") and choruses ("Oh, jingle bells..."). It may contain auxiliary members such as an introduction and/or outro, especially when accompanied by instruments (the piano starts and then: "Dashing...").

A section is, "a major structural unit perceived as the result of the coincidence of relatively large numbers of structural phenomena." Episode may refer to a section.

A passage is a musical idea that may or may not be complete or independent. For example, fill

Fill (music)

In popular music, a fill is a short musical passage, riff, or rhythmic sound which helps to sustain the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody....

, riff, and all sections.

Musical material is any musical idea, complete or not, independent or not, including motif

Motif (music)

In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....

s.

Auxiliary member

In musical form

Musical form

The term musical form refers to the overall structure or plan of a piece of music, and it describes the layout of a composition as divided into sections...

, an auxiliary member is a section, including introductions

Introduction (music)

In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...

, transitions

Transition (music)

In music, the transition is the middle section or formal function, while the main theme is the beginning, and the subordinate theme is the ending...

 and codas

Coda (music)

Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...

.

See also

• Song structure (popular music)
  Song structure (popular music)
  The structures or musical forms of songs in popular music are typically sectional, repeating forms, such as strophic form. Other common forms include thirty-two-bar form, verse-chorus form, and the twelve bar blues...
  
  
• Period (music)
  Period (music)
  In music, a period is a group of phrases consisting usually of at least one antecedent phrase and one consequent phrase totaling about 8 measures in length . Generally, the antecedent ends in a weaker and the consequent in a stronger cadence; often, the antecedent ends in a half cadence while the...
  
  
• Phrase (music)
  Phrase (music)
  In music and music theory, phrase and phrasing are concepts and practices related to grouping consecutive melodic notes, both in their composition and performance...
  
  
• Repetition (music)
  Repetition (music)
  Repetition is important in music, where sounds or sequences are often repeated. One often stated idea is that repetition should be in balance with the initial statements and variations in a piece. It may be called restatement, such as the restatement of a theme...
  
   and repeat sign